PATNA, Nov 17: Having failed to check the naxalite menace by force, the Bihar Government is planning to hit them where it would hurt the most -- their cash flows. It has directed intelligence agencies to track down bank accounts of leaders of the two most dreaded extremist outfits of the State -- the MCC and CPI(ML) Party Unity.

A month ago, Superintendent of Police Arvind Pandey had revealed that Naxalite outfits in Bihar were thriving on Government funds and had been extorting money allocated under Central Government schemes for tribal welfare.

In a long report submitted to the Government, he had claimed that 30 to 40 per cent of funds meant for development were being siphoned off by naxalites. This was corroborated by the General Secretary of the Bihar Administrative Services' Association, Shashi Verma, who admitted to mediapersons that officials often bought peace with Naxalites via development money.

Now, the Bihar Government has reportedly given the Special Branch and other Intelligence agencies a specific time-frame to recover this money. The idea to hit at Naxalites in this manner was reportedly mooted at a meeting of senior police officers held in Bhubaneswar last month. The officers present noted that not only were Naxalites extorting development money in the State but they were also getting substantial financial support from NGOs and Christian working groups. Despite Government's efforts and deployment of special task force, there has been no decline in the naxal activity here. Instead, these have shown a rise since last year. the matter found mention during a review of Bihar's law and order situation by Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta recently.